THE GLORY OF WAR (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS)

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
warPOSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)

These vintage real photo postcards extol the glory of war. We see images of a cute little boy playing with his toy soldiers. Above him, we see an image of a smiling World War I soldier looking down on the young lad. Perhaps these photographs can be interpreted as a soldier at war fondly remembering his days playing with toy soldiers. A second interpretation may be that a little boy is fantasizing fighting in a “real war” while he is playing with his militaristic toys. It is clear that these photo postcards were aimed to stimulate feelings of patriotism during a time of war. Many generations of young boys have had a skewed view of war. Fighting wars has been viewed as glorious and exciting. One teenager once told me that he didn’t want to live his life without having the experience of going to war. When these young boys (and in present times….girls) grow up and become participants in warfare, they realize that the fantasy is nothing like the reality. These postcards are an example of propaganda meant to garner support for France, it’s policies, and it’s troops. These postcards were published in France and are part of a series (0 549).  (ALL THREE POSTCARDS SOLD)

Published in: on March 4, 2026 at 11:30 am  Comments (2)  
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GLAMOROUS FRENCH MODEL : RISQUE BEADED COSTUME : SEMI NUDE : JEAN AGELOU : RPPC

This risque postcard features a sepia-toned image of a striking woman posed in a theatrical, evocative setting. She stands confidently, her body slightly angled, with one leg bent gracefully at the knee. Her scanty attire consists of an ornate, jewel-encrusted bikini-style costume adorned with beads and shimmering details, complemented by a garter on her thigh. She holds a piece of gauzy fabric in one hand, which adds a sense of movement and allure to the image. Her delicate high-heeled shoes contribute to her poised, elegant stance. The woman’s long, wavy hair cascades over her shoulders, framing her face, which exudes a calm, almost introspective expression. Her gaze is soft, directed downward as though lost in thought, lending an enigmatic quality to her overall appearance. This type of postcard, often referred to as a risqué or “boudoir” card, was a popular collectible in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While such images were considered daring or provocative for the era, they were also widely accepted within artistic and theatrical circles, particularly in Paris and other European cultural hubs. These postcards often featured dancers, actresses, or models and were sometimes used for advertising performances or as keepsakes. This photograph was likely taken by renowned French photographer, Jean Agélou. Agelou is credited with photographing other real photo postcards from this series.  SOLD

Published in: on March 1, 2026 at 11:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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FRANCOISE FABIAN : PRETTY AND PROLIFIC FRENCH FILM ACTRESS

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The pretty young woman featured in this vintage real photo postcard is Michele Cortes de Leone y Fabianera. Her stage name is Francoise Fabian (1933- ). She is a French film actress and she has appeared in more than 80 French and International films since 1956. She began as a stage actress and performed at the Paris Conservatoire. She trained at the Algerian Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. She is known for acting in “My Night at Maud’s” (1969), “Belle de Jour” (1967), and “Happy New Year” (1973). She acted in films by Eric Rohmer and Louis Malle. Fabian was born in Algiers, French Algeria. Her father was Spanish and her mother was Polish. She was married and widowed twice. Her first husband, Jacques Becker, was a French screenwriter and film director. Her second husband was French film actor, Marcel Bozzuffi. His roles included playing the brutal hit man in “The French Connection” (1971). The photographer of this portrait photo is Sam Levin (1904-1992). He was born in the Ukraine but emigrated to France when he was two years of age. He is famous for his stage photographs and his portraits of movie stars. His studio was in Paris. Levin was a film photographer for 75 films. He was arrested by the Nazis during World War II and was sent to a camp. His crime was, being Jewish. The fact that he was sent to a detention camp rather than a death camp, indicates there was a high ranking Nazi official acting as his guardian angel. He photographed nearly all the major French and European movie stars of the 1950’s and 1960’s. He is particularly celebrated for his photos of Brigitte Bardot. Levin did over 180 magazine covers in the United States. This postcard was published by Kores, a French company. The card is part of a series (#894). The series is comprised of 100 postcard portraits.  (SOLD)                                    

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Published in: on February 28, 2026 at 11:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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SIKH SOLDIERS BRITISH INDIAN ARMY : BASTILLE DAY : PARIS : POSTCARD : WW I 1916

This striking World War I–era postcard captures a powerful and historically important moment: Indian Sikh soldiers marching through Paris on July 14, 1916, France’s Bastille Day. The scene shows a column of turbaned Sikh troops advancing down a Parisian boulevard, sabers drawn, while a French woman steps forward to present flowers—an evocative gesture of gratitude and solidarity from the French public toward Allied colonial troops. The men are Sikh soldiers serving in the British Indian Army, identifiable by their turbans, beards, and traditional curved sabers (talwars), worn alongside British military uniforms and equipment. Sikh regiments were highly respected for their discipline and battlefield effectiveness, and tens of thousands served on the Western Front during the First World War. Many fought in France and Belgium between 1914 and 1918, sustaining heavy casualties far from home. This particular image documents their ceremonial participation in a Paris victory parade, rather than a battlefield scene. By 1916, Sikh and other Indian troops had become a familiar—and deeply symbolic—presence in France, representing the global reach of the Allied war effort. Public parades such as this one were meant to boost morale and emphasize unity among the Allies. The interaction in the foreground—flowers being handed to a senior Sikh soldier—adds a human and emotional layer to the photograph, underscoring the respect these men received from civilians who understood the sacrifices being made on their behalf. The caption under this postcard’s image can be translated as “July 14 in Paris, 1916 – The Indian Sepoys”. The term cipayes (sepoys) was commonly used in French to describe Indian soldiers serving under British command. The small monogram “ELD” at the bottom left of this postcard, is the publisher’s photographic logo and corresponds to Éditions Le Deley, a major Parisian postcard publisher active in the early 20th century. Le Deley was especially known for producing high-quality photographic postcards documenting current events, military subjects, and international themes during World War I. The reverse confirms the publisher as Le Deley, with a Paris address printed along the left edge. Le Deley issued thousands of wartime postcards and played an important role in visually documenting France’s experience during the Great War, including its colonial and Allied forces. (SOLD)

Published in: on December 30, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY WOMAN TAKING A BATH : RISQUE : PROVOCATIVE : FRENCH RPPC : c1910

This vintage French photographic postcard presents a playful and deliberately risqué studio scene, produced in France during the early 20th century, likely circa 1905–1915. The image shows a young woman reclining nude in an ornate bathtub, leaning over the tub’s edge with her arms folded and smiling directly at the viewer. Her expression is open, flirtatious, and self-aware, clearly intended to engage the recipient in a lighthearted, teasing manner. The setting is a stylized interior, with a patterned background and a decorative porcelain bathtub, lending the scene an air of theatrical elegance rather than explicit exhibition. While the subject is unclothed, the composition remains suggestive rather than explicit, placing the postcard squarely within the tradition of French “risqué” or “galant” postcards that were popular in the Belle Époque period. The card is marked “REX 811” on the image side, identifying it as part of a commercial French postcard series, produced for novelty and adult amusement rather than private photography. Such cards were widely collected, mailed discreetly, or kept in albums, and today they are sought after for their blend of early photography, social history, and erotic ephemera. A translation of the message is as follows: “Peek-a-boo… it’s me!” “Yes, it really is me… in flesh and bone, In flesh above all — but behind closed doors…” The wording is intentionally playful and suggestive, reinforcing the private, teasing tone of the image and making the postcard unmistakably risqué by period standards. The postcard is in very good vintage condition. There is light edge and corner wear consistent with age. The image remains clear, with good contrast and no major distractions. The reverse shows light handling wear (see scans).

This vintage postcard is available for purchase at The History Peddler for $38 or best offer

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236552618037

Published in: on December 27, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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BIJOUX : PERFORMER : WALERY : CASINO DE PARIS : RPPC 1908

This uncommon, color tinted vintage real photo postcard features a one-name performer named Bijoux. The card is risque for it’s era. Bijoux was a performer at the Casino de Paris and apparently, she was popular enough to merit her own postcard portrait, but not popular enough for me to find information about her online. Bijou was photographed by Lucien Walery. He was a celebrated Paris photographer known for his portraits of artists and cabaret dancers from the city’s music halls. He is very well known for his portraits of Mata Hari and Josephine Baker. Walery did a lot of work in the genre of nude/erotic photography. He photographed the beautiful women of Paris between the early 1900’s and the 1920’s. The postcard was published by a combined printing group in Nancy, France.  SOLD

Published in: on December 2, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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BEAUTIFUL FRENCH ACTRESS : JANE HADING : BY REUTLINGER & BY BOYER : TWO RPPC’S

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)

These color tinted vintage real photo postcards feature French actress and singer, Jane Hading (1859-1941). She was born in Marseille, France and was the illegitimate daughter of an actor there at the Theatre du Gymnase. She made her first stage appearance at three years of age. She trained at the local Conservatoire and in 1873 she was hired to perform at  a theatre in Algiers. She then was engaged to perform in Cairo, Egypt, where she played coquette, soubrette and ingenue roles. Returning to Marseille, she did stage acting and she sang in operettas. Her first appearance in Paris was in 1879 at the Palais Royal. In 1884, she married playwright and theatre manager, Victor Koning but the pair were divorced within three years. In 1888 and 1893, she toured America. Later, she toured South America with a theater company. In around 1892 she joined the Comedie Francaise. By this time, she was an established star in France, America, and England. She was also considered one of the prettiest actresses of her time.

Jane Hading’s portrait on Postcard 1 was taken by Leopold Reutlinger (Paris). This postcard was published by SIP. The card is part of a series (No.170/17). This is an undivided card and dates back to circa 1903. SOLD

Jane Hading’s portrait on Postcard 2 was taken by Paul Boyer.  Paul Boyer was a renowned French photographer born in 1861 and died in 1952. Based in Paris, he gained prominence for his portrait photography, particularly of actors, actresses, and other cultural figures during the Belle Époque. Boyer was known for his use of innovative photographic techniques and artistic lighting, which brought a distinctive elegance to his images. The initials of the firm that published this postcard can be found in the cards lower left corner. The initials PMM likely, but not for sure, belong to postcard publisher, “Maurice Manes”. The company, based in Paris, produced postcards during the golden era of postcards (pre 1939) and distributed them across Europe. The postcard is numbered 5316. This postcard’s reverse serves as an advertisement for the appearance of Jane Hading at the Coronet Theatre W. on the 26th of May, in 1902. SOLD

Postcard 3 This postcard was published by G. Piprot,  of “Etoille” or “Star” publishing in Paris. The card is part of a series (No.758).  SOLD

Published in: on November 22, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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FEODORA : PRETTY PERFORMER : RISQUE : RPPC : 1907

This vintage real photo postcard features pretty performer, Feodora. This postcard is a bit risque for it’s era. She is showing a lot of bare skin. Feodora is wearing pearls, a hairbow, and a fur hat. The initals of the photographer (M.F.) appear in the lower right hand corner. The photographer’s studio was in Paris. The message on the reverse of the postcard indicate that it was written in 1907. SOLD

Published in: on November 16, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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FELIX BRAMI : BANTAM WEIGHT BOXER : STAR OF DAVID ON HIS BOXING SHORTS

This vintage photograph features French bantam-weight boxer, Felix Said Brami (1940-2018). He was born in Tunis, Tunisia and was of Jewish descent. His boxing career spanned from 1961 through 1975. The website BoxRec states that he was in the super fly-weight division. Brami had an impressive record of 44 wins, 10 losses, and 3 draws. Twenty-two of his victories were by knockout. Brami won his first 20 fights. He was ranked as high as #6 bantamweight in the world by The Ring magazine in 1964, He was ranked in the top ten bantamweights in the world between 1963 and 1966. He held the French junior lightweight title from 1971 through 1975. Note the Star of David on Brami’s boxing shorts. I imagine that the star represents Brami’s heritage. Note the Star of David embroidered on his boxing trunks. Brami may have developed the idea in imitation of Max Baer. Baer was Jewish and a national hero after he won a bout against German boxer, Max Schmeling, in 1933. This photo indicates that Brami’s manager was G. Charles Raymond. The card’s portrait was photographed by the Belonie studio.  SOLD

Published in: on November 14, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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LUCY BERTHET : PRETTY OPERA SOPRANO : BY NADAR : HAND-TINTED : RPPC 1905

This exquisite early 20th-century hand‑tinted portrait postcard features the renowned Belgian‑born opera soprano Lucy Berthet (1866–1941), captured in profile by the eminent French studio Nadar. Gaspard‑Félix Tournachon, known as Nadar, was born 6 April 1820 and died 23 March 1910. His son, Paul Nadar (8 February 1856 – 1 September 1939), took over the studio. It’s believed this card is by Paul Nadar, as he is known to have photographed Lucy Berthet. Lucy trained at the Conservatoire de Paris , where she won the First Prize in opera singing in 1892. She debuted at the Paris Opera (Académie Nationale de Musique) in 1892 as Ophélie in Hamlet. She went on to perform major soprano roles: Juliette in Roméo et Juliette, Gilda in Rigoletto, Elsa in Lohengrin, Ortlinde in a French version of Die Walküre, Marguerite in Faust, Thaïs in Thaïs, and more through 1899. She was renowned as a long‑standing pensionnaire (resident artist) of the Paris Opera during the 1890s. This postcard features Lucy Berthet in a lavish embroidered costume, hand‑tinted with pastel purples and soft yellows, wearing a velvet choker with a jewel‑inset cross and matching headscarf. The publisher of this postcard was G. Piprot. He operated a studio in Paris. This card is part of a series  (N. 769 – Th. 70). This postcard is in very good condition. It offers a crisp vignette with rich coloring. It has minor age toning and mild edge wear. The card was mailed in 1907 from St‑Jean‑de‑Luz (Basses‑Pyrénées, France) to Madame Ch. Boulliez in Paris. The postcard has  a 5c green French stamp and a brief message, “Souvenir affectueux (affectionate remembrance),” The postcard is signed by E. Coutan,”. This card is part of the Belle Époque tradition of theatrical portrait postcards by top photographers. Paul Nadar frequently captured prominent performers—including Lucy Berthet.  (SOLD)

Published in: on November 10, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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